InCompany by Attire Club Summer 2020 by InCompany by Attire Club

“The Road” Photo: Attire Club

Editorial: Infinite Fire When the world is changing, we really need to stay in control of our creative powers and of the good things that lie within our personalities. Whether it’s the way we dress, act or emote, we must always lean towards the good and disregard the bad. In this sense, we should be as an infinite fire. Some hermeticists compare the world to an oven - a place where fire rules. Fire, not as in the eternal damnation scenario, but as a permanent creative force. Thus, if the world is like an oven ruled by creativity, then, in order to keep it going and obtain results, the fire must always be kept going (unless, of course, it needs to be renewed?). In the creative process, which is represented by fire, raw matter is converted into a physical product, which has a permanent, spiritual echo, represented by smoke and steam; but there is also a residual matter, which is scattered and almost useless, like the ashes. In order to create, one must understand the way creation is done: the steps and measures that need to be taken to obtain something that is really worthwhile. Nature is a really powerful source of inspiration in terms of how things evolve and of how everything is a part of a whole and that each part defines the whole and the whole defines each part. Everything makes sense in nature. Everything has a role to play and form always follows function. The fire in our solar system is the sun. In the Middle Ages, it was viewed by alchemists as an active agent, and was described as “gold prepared for the work” - work here referring to the Great Work, or as “philosophical sulphur”. But there was also “Sol in Homine”, the human gold, which was the invisible essence of the celestial sun that nourished the inner fires of mankind. And that is worth exploring. The Attire Club Team

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InCompanyt AttirehClub Released by FRAQUOH AND FRANCHOMME Chief Executive Officer Dan Dimitriu Creative Director Iosif Trif Write letters to the editor iosif.trif@attireclub.org Visit our website attireclub.org Contact & Advertising office@attireclub.org Address Theresiengasse 50 Top 1 1180 Vienna Austria Telephone 0097 150 12 801 73 Follow us Facebook: facebook.com/attireclub

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“The Fabric of Society” Photo: Attire Club

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Contents Summer 2020

Editorial

Infinite Fire Perpetually creating. u3 Color Stories Red Power and attention. u 10 Style Guide Leather Facts 10 Reasons to wear leather. u 12 Travel Album Lake Como A splendid place in Italy. u 18 The Attire Club St. Moritz Shopping Guide For All Your Luxury Needs What you can get on the top of the world. u 20 The Attire Club Digital Library What to Read on Our Blog Style guides, reviews and more! u 26 Watch Watching Aaron Becsei Time for beauty. u 28

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Style Map What Do You Like? Navigating the everyday in style. u 31 Fashion World Trends Today Are Very Slow: What Does It Mean? The ins and outs of tendences. u 32 Fashion History Fashion & Costumes from the British Libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mechanical Curator Styles from the past. u 34 Style Guide The Guide to House Shoes What shoes to wear around the house. u 40 In Their Own Words Blogger Igee Okafor One stylish gentleman! u 44 Fashion World A Brief History of the Future What are the new winds in fashion. u 48 Travel Alphabet R for Romania Between East and West. u 50 Current Obsessions Fun Summer Buys What you need to have fun and stay healthy at home this summer. u 58 For the Ladies How to Dres Like a Parisienne Timelessly chic. u 60 attireclub.org |

Style Notebook The Garden Notebook Take a leaf of inspiration from our garden. u 64 Watch Watching Watches and Wonders: The Digital Edition The latest from a server in Geneva u 70 Fashion and Technology Sci-Fit: Space Suits Made Finally for Space. Getting outside the studio. u 74 The Attire Club Mood Diary Our Moodboard as a Visual Journal Nautical themes. u 76 Stories from Our Web In Case You Missed Our Feed 24-hour stories. u 83 Cinema Culture The Film Dossier What to watch this summer. u 86 AC World The 2025-30 Trend Forecast: Pain or Wonder What will the world look like in ten years?

QR Code Glossary Discover the Brands Presented in this Issue Use your phone or tablet to discover the people and brands youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen in this issue. u 92

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The Smart Magazine Attire Club is offering a complete menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s style, fashion and lifestyle experience, centered around the AC website. To discover our universe and over 1000 articles that will offer you the tools to develop your style, as well as fashion inspiration and cultural insights and to interact with us and be part of our community, visit us online.

attireclub.org +See our QR Code Glossary at the end of the magazine

C O LO R

S TO R I E S

Our prehistoric ancestors saw red as the color of fire and blood, which symbolized of course energy and the primal life forces. Most of redâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s symbolism today arises from its powerful associations in the past. Today, red is both the color of passionate love and seduction but also of violence, danger, anger, and adventure. Given the strong polarities it is ascribed to, red is definitely a very emotionally intense color. Red is powerful, energetic, daring, exciting, impulsive, it draws attention and is highly assertive. Wearing red or decorating a room in it is going to always leave an impression. Photo: Attire Club

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From ACâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Social Media

Attire Club is 360 degrees experience and our readers can stay updated with us on every major social media platform, where we share articles, photos and more!

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Bags by Les Taureaux Photo: Attire Club

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S T Y L E

G U I D E

L e at h e r Fa c t s

10 Great Reasons to Wear Leather Leather is a fabric that has been used by humans to make clothes and accessories long before the fashion industry as we know it appeared. It has been used in all eras, by pretty much every culture. The craftsman of old knew why they were choosing it. Leather is a great material that protects the human body, as well as people’s goods; it is comfortable and long-lasting. There are a lot of leather types, which can be turned into a very vast palette of products and many people occupy their time with manufacturing leather goods, as there’s nothing like a hand-made leather piece. Using leather goods, as it’s useless to have them if you don’t use them, has a lot of advantages. Here is a look at 10 reasons why leather is a top material! Durability. Leather is an extremely durable material, especially if it is high-quality leather. Generally, leather manufacturers try to make the best from their leather and to treat it in a way that will make it more resistant and durable. Even though top-notch leather goods may be more expensive, you can almost always be sure that they will last for years and look almost just as good as they did on day one. Timelessness. Speaking of durability, we also need to touch on the lasting trait of leather. Leather goods are always in style and are the mark

Bag by Les Taureaux Photo: Attire Club

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Photo: Attire Club

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of a person who is steady and who values strong foundations. This is why you can’t say “there’s no point in leather being extremely durable if it won’t be fashionable”, because leather has proven itself as a timeless fabric. Style. Leather is a very elegant material. In its natural color or dyed, leather will always add a certain degree of quality to any design. Everything looks more powerful in leather: leather wallets look better than plastic wallets, leather pants look more badass than cotton pants. If you’re going to get into a barroom brawl, you better wear a leather jacket. Jokes aside, leather always looks good and is an indicator of quality, appreciation of elegance, strength and naturalness. It’s actually pretty amazing how one can communicate so many things through the fabrics of his clothes and accessories. Genuine leather won’t peel or crack, so your leather goods will always be ready to be used. We need to mention that genuine leather goods, should they be accessories or clothes, have small scratches or signs. Don’t worry; those are an indicator that the leather is natural and of high quality, and not just made from glued and meshed scraps.

Bag by Les Taureaux Photo: Attire Club

Naturalness. Leather is a natural fabric and we don’t condone any type of synthetic leather (with a few exceptions, of course). It’s always important to have things that are made from natural fabrics, as, as human beings we need to be in contact with natural objects. Synthetic fibers can give you rashes, make your skin itch and even though sometimes you might not feel it or be able to make the connection directly, wearing natural fabrics will make you feel physically and mentally good, as opposed to synthetic fibers which can make you feel bad, as they are foreign elements to your body and are not optimized for human wear. These days, there are more and more quality faux leather products, some of which are truly amazing.

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Photo: Attire Club

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Wallet by Waskerd Photo: Attire Club

Strength. Besides from lasting a long time, leather usually keeps its quality in time as well. Leather is resistant to dry abrasion, can be resistant to fire (if treated for it), and it is partly waterproof. Unlike other materials, leather is also resistant to dust mites and fungal attacks. Leather is also lint and dust-free, which means that it will look and feel just as great even if you don’t treat it in a special way. We would recommend that you get leather travel bags as well, as when you travel, you need to have sturdy things in which you place your belongings. The last thing you want is your weekender bag to break when you are running to catch a plane. Leather breathes. This might sound like a vague argument, but leather is a fabric that breathes well. Imagine what would happen if you seal a room and leave it like that for a year. You would end up having a room full of fungus, bad, if not unbreathable air, the things in it would get either too moist or too dry and everything would be out of place. However, if you let air go through the room or have wooden window frames, everything will still be in order one year later. The same happens with leather. If you keep your goods in leather bags and wallets or dress in leather, everything will be balanced and right due to this factor.

Flexibility. With all the talk about leather being tough and unbreakable, one might begin to think that leather is similar to rock or wood. But that’s obviously not the case. With time, leather becomes more and more flexible while keeping its shape and strength. This is why you shouldn’t worry if a leather item you purchased seems a little woody in the beginning and then begins to soften - that’s supposed to happen and it’s not a bad thing. Being flexible makes leather only greater, as it molds to its owner’s lifestyle, shape and way of use. Leather doesn’t cost much. When we tell people that leather is inexpensive they generally will say “right” with an ironic tone in their voice. But leather is truly not expensive. It is true that leather products cost more than products made from synthetic fabrics, but they last so much longer; thus, the cost / wear ratio is extremely small. For example, if you buy a leather duffle bag for $900, but you will use it for the next 10 years, it means that it costs you only $90/year. If you use it 150 times in a year, the cost/use is $0.6. Some leather backpacks or other types of bags can very well last 10 years or more. It is eco-friendly. Not only is leather natural and therefore no chemicals are used in the making of it, polluting the air, the rivers and the

environment in general, but unlike other fabrics, leather is also bio-degradable. Even though leather is chemically treated, it does not compare to the number of chemicals used for producing synthetic goods. In a world where fashion is often accused of not being environmental-friendly, owning leather goods is just a way to be both eco-friendly and stylish. Leather smells good. As weird as this might sound, leather has a certain smell to it with which you might be familiar. The reason this is important is not only because one can have a nice experience smelling his leather wallet, but for another reason as well. If you have a synthetic wallet or key tag and place it in your bag or briefcase, the bad smell a synthetic product might have can spread all over, giving you and the people around you a big surprise when you open the bag or briefcase. Moreover, since the smell of leather is a natural one, it behaves well when in contact with perfumes, so you won’t have bad experiences that might involve the change of your perfume’s smell. To conclude, we can say that leather is inexpensive and natural, it looks amazing and is extremely durable. Thus, it has all the characteristics of a great material to wear and use! attireclub.org |

T R AV E L

A L B U M

From the Attire Club Travel Archive Lake Como is an upscale alpine resort in the Northern Italian region of Lombardy that has an impressive and dramatic scenery. The mix of high mountains with exotic flora offers an eclectic vibe like no other in the world. In the wintertime, even though in the nearby Alps it can get extremely cold, the weather around the lake are very inviting for a fun and warm holiday. Photo: Attire Club

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Lake Como

From the Online Edition

Attire Club is the ultimate resource for complete style guides, fashion inspiration and cultural insights that provide you with the tools you need for a continuous style development. Geared towards the sharp modern man, Attire Club offers practical “you can do it, here’s how” articles that will make you not only look better, but also feel better and more confident. With a groundbreaking new concept, AC is the essential online publication that brings out the best in who you are.

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AttirehClub

ST. MORITZ SHOPPING GUIDE Photos: Attire Club

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t. Moritz is known as one of the world’s top jet set destinations. The sunny Alpine resort located in the South of Switzerland draws thousands of people each year, who are looking for a refined, chic and exclusive holiday filled with long lunches, cocktail parties and lots of fun. While St. Moritz may be primarily known for its high-end hotels and restaurants and for being the birthplace of luxury winter sports, it is also a one-of-akind shopping destination.

he small town filled with 5-star hotels, amazing restaurants, great art and everything in between is also full of fabulous stores where one can find pretty much anything. It is said that the shops you find in a place say a lot about the people who live or come there for the holidays and the St. Moritz shops definitely let you know that the people who come there are very stylish and very very rich. People in Sankt Moritz are known to be on top of the trends and ahead of the curve, so if you are planning on joining the crowd and mingling with royalty, celebrities or oil tycoons at the casino or on the slopes, you should look the part. Or, of course, you can just do it for yourself.

t can be said that pretty much all the big luxury labels of the world are represented on the streets of St. Moritz. Many stores are located on the via Serlas, which is the main street for luxury boutiques. For example, here you can buy a classic bag from Chanel and a trendy outfit from Gucci. Once you have some cool basics, you can look for some accessories from Louis Vuitton or Bottega Veneta, which are also located on the via Serlas. Those who want to have preppy look can stop by the Ralph Lauren store and if you are looking for some bold prints, you can stop by the Roberto Cavalli store, which is now located on the via da Vout. If you want to complete your outfit with some impressive accessories, you can stop by one of the many jewelry or watch stores in the downtown area. We’re sure you can find something amazing at the Chopard boutique on the via da Vout. In case you are looking for some diamond pieces, you don’t need to worry, as there are plenty of diamonds in St. Moritz. The same goes for gold and silver. If you are a watch lover, you will be in your element here, as you can find most wellknown watch brands here, from Breitling and Panerai to IWC Schaffhausen and, of course, Rolex. Once you’ve got these details in the bag, you can go to Jimmy Choo or Bally for a pair of shoes. There’s something for every taste.

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hose who want to have an exclusive runway experience can visit the amazing stores of Dolce and Gabbana, Prada, Ermenegildo Zegna, Valentino, Gucci, Armani or Hermès. Some of these stores are situated in beautiful locations and are worth visiting even if just for the beautiful arcade windows, which are always decorated with great taste in the spirit of the brand.

hen it comes to sportswear, we’re sure you’ll find something great at the Moncler store or the local Bogner store. There is also a great shop called Ender Sport, where you can find what you need to work out or go skiing or hiking. Moreover, you can also find a fantastic Dsquared2 flagship store in the attireclub.org |

Plazza da Scoula. The eclectic and cosmopolitan ambiance of the resort town is also complemented by a series of stores of local brands. Here, you can find some amazing pieces made with Swiss precision, which range from wool vests to fur coats and everything in between.

f course, shopping in St. Moritz is not limited just to fashion and accessories. There are lots of great home dĂŠcor stores and you can even order a Maserati. If you really want to go all the way, you can also buy some amazing old school-type Swiss doors for your winter holiday home. St. Moritz may not be a big town, but it is a heavyweight in the world of luxury fashion and style. The

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scenic Swiss town is prime territory for those who love big brands, quality clothes and refined accessories. No wonder St. Moritz has become a glamour-infused name in the world of luxury living!

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T H E

D I G I TA L

L I B R A RY

AttireClub.org Blog Must-Reads Discover a list of must-read articles from our blog. Simply scan the QR code on the right or visit our website to check out the posts!

Tracksuits as Casual Wear? A Review of the West End Bridle Leather Belt by Equus Leather Dream Brands: Which One’s Yours? What Should Children Wear? Life Lessons: What Makes a True (Gentle)man? When and How to Wear a Bow Tie Good Trend, Bad Trend Matching Your Shirt and Tie: A Guide Attire Club Mood Board: Dutch Clothes of the 18th Century The Guide to the Nehru Jacket Fusion Wear: A Case for Indo-Western Suits What are the Requirements to Be a Male Model? The Guide to Wearing a Hawaiian Shirt 5 Underwear Rules A Guide to Socks and Fabrics: From Cotton to Vicuña Wool 26 | InCompanytAttirehClub

WATC H

WATC H I N G

Aaron Becsei Ti m e f o r Beauty

Aaron Becsei is a Hungarian watchmaker. He is the third generation of watchmakers in his family and is one of the people in the business who makes everything himself for his creations. He designs and manufactures all the parts he uses for his pieces: from the screws and bridges to the crowns and hands. He even makes the buckles. His watches have a special feel of old elegance and are appreciated by many people. We wanted to learn more about him and his process and he was very kind to agree to give us answers to our questions. Discover our exclusive interview! You come from a family of watchmaking professionals. What can you tell us about that? My father and grandfather were both self-taught watchmakers and very respected during their eras. During my childhood, I was surrounded by watches and clocks (my father still collects clocks and watches), which definitely influenced me to choose this path. How did growing up in a watchmaking family influence your decision to become a watchmaker as well? I loved watches and the stories about them, but, after secondary school, I had no intentions towards the watchmaking profession yet. However, after trying some techniques at my father’s workshop, I fell in love with it and I learned the basics at his workshop and at the Budapest Watchmaking School. When I got my diploma in Mechanical Engineering, I decided to combine my

passion with my studies and started to design and develop new parts for old or broken timepieces. How did you learn to make watches? I learned the most from my father and some basics from the Watchmaker School. After deciding to do it as a profession, I started to self-teach myself and gather information from the internet, from books, exhibitions and other watchmakers. Where do you find your inspiration and how would you describe your aesthetic? I visited several watch and watchmaking museums all over Europe with my father in my 20s. Those antique timepieces inspired me to make my own creations. Their aesthetic and the exceptional mechanical solutions impressed me – for the rest of my life… And I try to find

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The Bexei Primus Triaxis Tourbillon wristwatch with Table clock No.1

The Bexei Minute Repeater Sonnerie

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The Bexei Dignitas Pure Rose Gold without case

the balance between the neutral/pure and the unusual/ eye-catching solutions. My watches are classic, but feature some unconventional shapes and solutions. What can you tell us about your watches? I pay attention to the extra high-end finishing and the aesthetic appearance. But, since I develop my own movements, I must create extremely accurate parts. And, as I want to satisfy my customers, I make every time a different version of my models for the future owner â&#x20AC;&#x201C; bespoke pieces only. The Bexei Miniature Double Pendule Zappler (only 20mm tall)

How have your watches been received? Who are your clients? At this level of high-end watchmaking my work has been considered as masterpieces both artistically and mechanically. My watches may have unusual shapes and solutions, but at the same time, they are wearable and have an elegant appearance. These are interesting for the collectors. I have customers from all around the world. They are collectors with high-level standards. What do you see changing these days in the world of watches, what do you think will be the next big thing in the future? I think artistic, bespoke, hand-finished pieces will be more respected, as the time and their creation costs will be more valuated. And also, I think people will pay more attention to the value of something and not so much to marketing textsâ&#x20AC;Ś

Visit the Bexei website at bexei.hu

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The Style Map

{A style trip of brands, colors and stories} Photos: Attire Club

Having breakfast at the local terrace

Telling time with a Breitling

Studying architecture

Eating chocolates

Taking a road trip

Buying accessories from Yaki Bracelets

Currency!

Z Focus: Angelo Igitego Many men enjoy having and wearing accessories that have a story and are made with a personal passion. For this type of men, artisanal things or personalized products are probably the best thing they can receive (objectwise). Today, through websites such as Etsy, you can discover pieces you wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have even dreamt of twenty years ago. Angelo Igitego, for example, is a discountidued brand that offered unique handmade bow ties made from very beautiful and colorful fabrics featuring African prints. Their bow ties came directly from Rwanda. Unfortunately, the brand was recently discountinued, but their bow ties are still out there. Photo: Attire Club

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FA S H I O N

WO R L D

Tr e n d s To d ay A r e Ve r y S l o w Wh at D o e s I t M e a n ?

trend can be defined as a general direction in which something is and as a point of view that is held by many. Fashion is of course, the best examples of what trends are. We can clearly see style trends if we look at any era from the past. During the 1970s, flower prints and bell bottoms were in, while during the late 80s and 90s, baggy, dark sweatsuits with neon accents were in. However, trends are not limited to fashion - not by far. In fact, fashion is a reflection of everything that is going on. It also makes for a useful tool when it comes to understanding society as a whole: its political leanings, its moral positions and pretty much everything else. Fashion trends don’t stand alone: they go hand in hand with the trends in every other field: technology, home decorations, kitchen appliances, gardening, architecture, food and more. These days, one may often hear the phrase “trends are very slow”. But what does that mean? To understand this, we need to understand the breaking down of trends into two categories: small trends and big trends. Small trends are simple fads: they come and go quite rapidly. For example, mood rings were such a fad. Big trends, however, are the overarching trends, they are the general stream which defines and give contour to what is going on. For example, the “flower power” or the “disco” trends were big trends: they encompassed a vision that was reflected in almost everything: it affected the way people dressed, the way they socialized, thought, decorated, worked, ate, prayed and so on.

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Seeing things from this perspective, we can definitely conclude that trends have definitely slowed down.

ntering the 2020 decade, we’re very likely to see some major changes take place. Most of these will come due to the technological advances we are currently seeing spread, which will have a trickle-up effect on everything else. Otherwise, while we will definitely see a grand renewal of many things, it is very likely that, after that renewal, trends will become even slower than they are today. That does not mean that there won’t be new clothes, new furniture and new gadgets every season, it simply means that the overarching philosophies and aesthetics of these will last for long periods of time. We will most likely not see so much radical change happening so quickly as it used to; we will use things for longer periods of time, wear clothes for more years and decorate more rarely.

he fact that we are becoming more and more separated is also a contributing factor to the slowing down of trends: if we are going to live in a world that is highly interconnected, but in which people don’t share much outside of their close group, we will need a “watered-down” version of the mainstream. In this sense, small trends may become very important, but they won’t really define the entire spirit of a time.

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oday, we are seeing the big trends slow down very much. To get a good grasp of this idea, think of it this way: if, in the year 2000, you would have had a lamp from 1985, the lamp would have been quite old-looking and some would have clearly called it “vintage”. The same goes for furniture, clothes and home appliances. However, if in the year 2020, you have and use a lamp, a piece of furniture or even clothes you bought in 2005, the difference is not that big. If you think about it, many people claim that they feel that the 2000s went by so fast, they didn’t even notice them. One of the reasons people think this is the fact that trends have slowed down. The difference between the year 2000 and the year 1985 is of 15 years and the difference between 2005 and 2020 is also of 15 years. However, the aesthetic, political and tech differences vary

greatly. In the year 2000, a movie from the 1980s was clearly “an older movie”, however, in 2020, a movie from the 2000s is not considered an old film. Surely, things change, people dress a bit differently, technology is at a different point and so on, but overall, we don’t really perceive the year 2005 in 2020 as having been very long ago, yet, in the year 2000, 1985 seemed quite a while back.

e can never know for sure how trends will evolve, but, currently we are noticing a slowing down of trends not just in fashion (where many designers are trying to create “timeless” clothes - which is very much on trend), but also in other fields, including in the way we perceive the world, in the way we think and in the way we relate to ourselves.

←Early 2010s: Versace (SS2012), Givenchy (SS 2013), Calibre (SS 2013), Ralph Lauren (Spring 2015). Many of these looks would be highly modern in 2020 as well. ↓ → Dolce and Gabbana autumn 2005 timeless looks

←Avatar was released over a decade ago, in 2009, but many people still see it as a “modern” film.

Amidst globalisation, trends are becoming worldwide, so it’s important to take a unique approach to what fashion has to offer. Be yourself in the middle of it all; fashion shouldn’t be ‘try hard.’ -Carine Roitfeld

↑ The web has contributed to the popularization of “vintage styles”, which tend to blur the concept of ‘trend’. Here is a mid-century-style Italian chair (€2,962.83 / $3,250.37) that was actually made in 2019.

↑→ The first generation of MacBooks by Apple (2006) (above)doesn’t look to far away from today’s laptops (right).

→ Wonder Woman 1984 will be an interesting movie from a cultural point of view. The trailer mixed a lot of 1980s aesthetics, which is very much on trend these days with a very fresh look, which is likely to be the ground for the ‘20s aesthetic. Moreover, the choice of “1984” indicates a try to put a new spin on the dreaded 1984 year - in many ways, the WW film seems to be set in the future. The fact that there is a cultural battle for the future is also indicated in the WW initials, which until now have been used to abreviate the term “World War”: maybe the film is a symbolic war on whether the future will be like in 1984 by George Orwell. ↑ The new Wonder Woman poster indicates many of the visual trends of the next years. We can attireclub.org | see these visual trends in many new music videos as well as in runway shows.

FA S H I O N

H I S TO RY

Fashion & Costumes from the British Libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mechanical Curator

From My Little Chinese Book (1912)

The Mechanical Curator of the British Library is a tool that was designed to extract images from old books that have been digitized. The software was created a few years ago and, soon after it was put to work, it has extracted over 1 million images. These images feature everything and anything from maps and portraits to flowers and animals. Needless to say, the styles of the images are as varied as the books themselves. Among the 1 million images, there are also many images featuring costumes or clothes. These great fashion illustrations depict a variety of outfits, from traditional to avant-garde. Many images tagged with the keywords clothes and fashion are simple images from books in which the characters are beautifully dressed. 34 | InCompanytAttirehClub

From Fra det moderne England. I Dansk bearbejdelse ved A. Ipsen. Med talrige illustrationer, etc. (From modern England. In Danish editing by A. Ipsen. With numerous illustrations, etc.) (1894)

Many of the clothes extracted from the books of the British Library had not been seen by the human eye for over a century before their digitalization, as many had been stacked somewhere deep inside the shelves of the library. From a sartorial perspective, it can be said that a lot of these looks are downright inspirational. The colors, the textures and the shapes all have the potential to inspire anyone. Some of them could even be part of a novel collection. If a few of these clothes were to be reinterpreted with modern fabrics and with a contemporary twist, they would be quite groundbreaking. attireclub.org |

From A magyar nemzet tortenete (The History of the Hungarian Nation) (1895)

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From Die Völker des Erdballs nach ihrer Abstammung und Verwandtschaft, und ihren Eigenthümlichkeiten in Regierungsform, Religion, Sitte und Tracht … Mit … colorirten Abbildungen (The peoples of the globe according to their descent and kinship, and their peculiarities in form of government, religion, custom and costume ... With ... colored illustrations) (1845)

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A Floral Fantasy in an Old English Garden. Set forth in verses & coloured designs (1899)

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S T Y L E

G U I D E

THE GUIDE TO

HOUSE SHOES

Shoes are one of the most discussed aspects of men’s fashion and fashion in general. It’s kind of clear that shoes are such an important aspect of life because there are basically very few moments of the week we spend shoeless. And while most magazines and blogs always focus on formal or sports shoes, this time around we are turning our sight to the area of house shoes. It’s pretty clear what a slipper should be: comfortable, natural and elegant. And, while many people know this, some find it hard to maintain those standards for themselves. Here are some essential things to think of when it comes to the topic of house shoes! Functionality and Style The type of shoe you want to wear around the house is a shoe that will be in tandem with your lifestyle and the temperature you live in.

Etiquette If we are talking about house shoes, we should also discuss the etiquette surrounding the aspect of taking your shoes off when you enter someone’s house.

For example, for someone living in a warm environment, where they always get in and out of the house shoes, a slipper type would be preferred, while someone who does a lot of work around the house or needs to stay in them a longer while, a moccasin type would be what they should consider.

While in some parts of the world, such as Japan or other countries, it’s implied that you need to take your shoes off before entering someone’s house, in Western or westernized cultures the rules are not fixed and sometimes people can find themselves in uncomfortable situations. Should you ask people to take their shoes off, should they take them off without being asked, what is the proper etiquette?

Shoes need to be comfortable and natural because it is best for your feet to breathe and feel well. In some cases, house shoes can improve your health; for example people with diabetes are recommended to wear warm shoes around the house in order to keep their feet at a good temperature for their blood flow to be optimal.

Because it’s your house, you can ask someone to take their shoes off, but you should give them a pair of house shoes to wear, since you can’t really ask people to stay in their socks alone - some may get cold, etc. attireclub.org |

There are people who claim that if you have guests you can ask them to bring their slippers from home, but that’s not very nice in our opinion, given that you condition the people who come to carry their own shoes.

Also, many people wonder if it’s OK to meet somebody in your house wearing slippers. We would say it is fine, but sometimes you want to still look your best, in which case you can look for a dressier pair of house shoes.

Basically, you either can give them shoes or you don’t ask them to take them off. Of course, with people you know the rules can change, but this goes as a general rule.

Generally, at formal events people keep their shoes on, at semi-formal it depends on the situation and at very casual, everyone can be in slippers, socks or bare feet.

On the other side, when it comes to asking somebody if you should take your shoes off, we can respond that if they don’t imply it, you should probably not ask, but, depending on the person and the context you can ask the question.

In short, everyone makes their own rules, and while some find it natural to take their shoes off when they enter somebody’s house, others tend to think it’s natural to keep your shoes on. Indoor house shoes are important and not only to those who live in a house, but to those who visit it as well.

Your Style Is Worth Your While

AttireClub.org

I N

T H E I R

OW N

WO R D S

Blogger

Igee Okafor

Igee Okafor is a strong online presence in the world of menswear. His goal is to inspire people to be stylish and live their best lives. Following his blog and social media, we were very impressed by the really sophisticated, elegant, simple and all-around stylish looks he creates for himself. He is really a guy to watch and learn from; his outfits are always not just good-looking, but also the mark of someone who goes beyond the barriers of the everyday. And that’s really something! Discover our interview with him below!

“As I became older and mature enough to

articulate style’s real application in my life, I started to pay more attention to it. I got to the age where I thought I knew who I was and I wanted everything I did to showcase it.” How did your interest in style and fashion begin? I grew up being a very artistic child. Early developments started with my interest in music and theatre which ultimately transitioned into entertaining as a whole. I saw style, which I didn’t realize was “style” at the time as a part of the coterie. I would dress up my sister’s Barbie dolls and critique the choices my mom made for my personal clothing. Hers too! I would watch movies and critique the makeup I saw or try to recreate some of the looks I was seeing. As I became older and mature enough to articulate style’s real application in my life, I started to pay more attention to it. I got to the age where I thought I knew who I was and I wanted everything I did to showcase it. Style was one way. I was reading magazines to help define, or should I say align with what I knew I wanted and I eventually

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transitioned into reading style blogs which I found incredibly fascinating. I didn’t see that enough of my perspective was represented and I wanted to contribute to the conversation. I started my own blog, www.igeeokafor.com to document my style journey in hopes that I would be able to learn from and connect with like-minded people and you can imagine what happened afterwards. How has it changed over the years? I’d like to describe it as a coming of age style story but the truth is I’m still developing it. I believe I started off very trendy, copying what I was seeing in the media, and then I started to morph into what I believe worked best for from everything I was able to experiment with. Editing if you may. Do you have any people you look up to stylewise? I really enjoy the idea of a uni-

form, minimalist look on a day to day basis. I also enjoy maximalist styles when done naturally and with confidence. Tom Ford is someone I look up to very much in that department, Victoria Beckham speaks to me, Harry Styles is doing such a fantastic job currently, Christine from Christine and The Queens, Fred Castleberry is great, Luke Edward Hall, Sabine Getty, Alton Mason, Dean and Dan Caten. What brands or designers are you currently most interested in? Why? Gucci really does it for me. One thing I enjoy in a fashion company is when they’re able to intentionally create clothing that showcases duality in gender and personalities. Gucci does a wonderful job of blurring those lines. Jacquemus also seems to have taken the world by storm and for good reason. The brand has a very focused storyline with a consistent take on minimalism and a sense of a very nostalgic French

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throwing and hosting launch events, producing brand shoots and more. Last year, I founded a new online men’s publication called BOND OFFICIAL developing content along the same lines except this time, my team and I are focusing on what social impact means to us and how we can tell the story with different veins of men. The main takeaway is that we are creating a platform for men to feel empowered through addressing different facets of modern male culture. I’m the acting Editor-In-Chief. What do you think will be the main trends in men’s fashion in the near future? Why? I really do not follow trends but we are living in a time where men do not have to confine themselves to societal ideologies of what men should look like. Things are a bit more expressive, individual, and cultural and that is not a trend. It’s a significant movement.

era. The accessories are beautiful - a bit campy, but they also manage to translate as wearable art. Tom Ford and Ralph Lauren remain classically sought after in my book. The formalwear selections are incomparable. What are your favorite things to wear? A double-breasted suit, a boot with a heel, my signet ring and my wrist watch. How do you describe your personal style? Well-tailored and accessorized. How often do you buy new clothes? Not very often actually. I try to only go shopping for something new when I feel like I need it. Full out though, maybe once every three months or so. Do you shop mostly online or offline? Both, equally. If I had to choose one, I would pick shopping offline. Nothing beats being able to see,

feel, and try on the product before purchasing it. It saves a lot of time. What can you tell us about your website and work? My website, ww.igeeokafor.com was launched in March 2014 as a personal style blog. I single-handedly wrote extensive articles detailing my experiences with certain clothing essentials. After working a bit in traditional publishing, and digital marketing, I then transitioned the site into a style advice, education, and shoppable product hub for men. I also extended the category from just fashion to lifestyle, travel. That’s how I started to run the business part-time. Through networking in New York City, I started to partner with fashion and lifestyle brands that aligned with my vision to create content that was seamless. Since then, I’ve been able to work as a brand ambassador and consultant for various brands where the jobs differ. It’s an all-inclusive of creating and casting social content campaigns, being a spokesperson,

What do you want to do in the near future, what are you focusing on? I’m enjoying working on BOND OFFICIAL and currently that is my focus. Generally though, my interests lie in staying creative. I really believe I am capable of exploring new talents that instill curiosity in me. I’ve always said I want to build a successful lifestyle brand inclusive of fashion, travel, beauty/grooming like Tom Ford, and Ralph Lauren. That’s still a big dream of mine. Fashion, beauty, TV and film, art - I’m curious to see what I can do across all subjects.

Discover Igee’s website at igeeokafor.com attireclub.org |

FA S H I O N

WO R L D

A Brief History of the Future

D New Wind

isruption is a buzz word that has been on many people’s lips for quite a while now. Many forecasters and business pros have been talking for a few years about the fact that the third decade of the 21st century will bring much change to the world - so much change that some people even claimed that the year 2030 may look nothing like the year 2020. The ground on which these changes would take place is, of course, the advent of new technologies. The Internet of Things, 5G, the blockchain, AI and other technologies have the ability to reshape the world. We’ve already seen changes to many industries (including in the jewelry sector) which were brought by the use of these technologies, but so far, the impact has been minimal in comparison to what is most likely to happen. The recent outbreak of a new coronavirus has thrown the world into a panic and has rapidly shifted the way we relate to gatherings, at least for a certain time. In this sense, many industries have had to rethink the way they do business, interact with their customers and everything in between. Because major events - and then smaller events too were banned by governments worldwide and because there was a generalized crazed around meeting people, a lot of events have been shifted to an online format. Surely, this

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is not by far as effective as an in-person format and it doesn’t even make much sense in some cases. Moreover, the lockdown (which is probably going to be the word of the year in 2020 - or something related to it) - has unfortunately affected everything from the creation of prime materials to the distribution of finished goods. In this sense, we could see many changes in the fashion world, which were expected by some, but not so soon. Earlier this year, in mid-spring, Saint Laurent became the first major brand to officially leave the fashion calendar. The label announced that it would not take part in the upcoming edition of Paris Fashion Week, but that this does not mean that it won’t come back. It doesn’t mean that it will either. The Parisian label announced that it would simply march to its own beat, given that now things are characterized by such a high degree of uncertainty. Surely, many small brands were doing that already, as lots of designers were showcasing collections whenever they were ready or when they could afford it, but the fact that such a major brand like Saint Laurent has taken this route is an indicator of a great disruption in the sector. In late June, PFW announced that it would go ahead with its in-person shows starting September 28. In Milan, the men’s fashion week has been postponed for September, to coincide with the women’s shows. So far, the usual headliners are all still expected to participate. PFW also pressed the pause button on its menswear

and haute couture shows. Meanwhile, London Fashion Week has gone full digital, as it invited its designers to provide content in early June. After announcing that it would postpone its show for September (instead of the classic June), Pitti Uomo also announced that it would create a strong online platform called Pitti Connect where brands, media and buyers will be able to meet. Agostino Poletto, general manager of Pitti Immagine, explained: “Pitti Connect will make it possible for exhibitors not only to better communicate all the facets of their brand identity but will also have advanced functions for managing access to the marketplace and the order phase.” There has been talk on the streets of fashion on what the future of Fashion Week will be, and, while the future is not certain, we can say that FWs will very likely become smaller and therefore, even more exclusive. We are also very likely to see a decrease in fashion production, as people will buy less clothes that they will use for a longer time. A New Chapter: Chapter 11 nother thing that is shaping the fashion world is the filing for bankruptcy of many brands. Neiman Marcus and J. Crew are just some of the big names that have filed for bankruptcy, which means that they are looking for some type of monetary support, not that they are going to close down. Of course, this is not good for their PR, as you don’t want your dressy clothes to be associated with bankruptcy. What needs to be pointed out is that many labels were already in trouble. In 2019, before the shutdown craze, many brands had already filed for bankruptcy. Barneys, Forever 21 and Diesel USA were all applied for bail-outs last year. In other changes, Zac Posen had shuttered his brand and other brands were spun away from their struggling parent brands.

Back to 2020, we could see a continuation of this stream of events, with J.C. Penney filing for Chapter 11 in May, soon after John Varvatos, J.Hilburn and other known names had done the same. What this means is that we are going to see some brands disappear from the market and that those that will make it will most likely restructure. Zara, while it did not go bankrupt, announced that it will close about 1200 stores. Disruption, again, is the key word. Passing It On great endeavor has come from Van Cleef & Arpels, which in the spirit of supporting art and education as well as perpetuating the culture

of jewelry has decided to publish videos online from which people can learn about jewelry and gemstones. The Universe of Gemstones, Art History of Jewelry and, Savoir-Faire are the titles of the videos brought by the L’ÉCOLE School of Jewelry Arts together with the luxury brand. The videos are really amazing and highly educational - definitely worth watching! Seasonalities n the midst of everything that was happening, US Vogue’s Anna Wintour also gave an interview in which she stated that the crisis has been a catastrophe for the fashion industry and added “I think everybody is rethinking what the fashion industry stands for, what it means, what it should be.” Wintour also added that she believes that in the near future, people will be more considerate towards fashion and more careful in their shopping choices when it comes to clothes. Extreme consumerism may be ending according to her. Of course, her statement comes in the context of the 2020 Met Gala being canceled, which would have had as its theme “About Time: Fashion and Duration” - so maybe Anna’s going for a self-fulfilling prophecy?

In other Anna Wintour news, the Vogue editor has also drawn much negative press (or just press?) recently, as André Leon Talley wrote in his new memoir that, even though the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue helped his career grow, she is not capable of human kindness”. He added: “I wonder, when she goes home alone at night, is she miserable? Does she feel alone?” ¡Escándalo! Soon, more news about brands leaving the fashion calendar appeared, as Gucci posted on their IG account a page from Alessandro Michele’s personal diaries, which stated that “I will abandon the worn-out ritual of seasonalities and shows to regain a new cadence, closer to my expressive call. We will meet just twice a year, to share the chapters of a new story. Irregular, joyful and absolutely free chapters, which will be written blending rules and genres, feeding on new spaces, linguistic codes and communication platforms.” The current crisis is definitely a stepping point for many industries, including the fashion industry, which has hinted at wanting to make changes for some years now and now has the opportunity to do so. In the long term, fashion, especially high fashion, will most likely become very exclusive and inaccessible. Moreover, while clothing will feel inclusive, they will most likely be quite exclusive, in that small and big brands will rarely meet and the same goes for their customers. Most likely, we will know more about the changes that will occur in the fashion world in the next crisis (which will happen in the next months most likely), but it can be said that the general direction is quite clear. attireclub.org |

T R AV E L

A L PH A B E T

R for Romania All Photos: Attire Club

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The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest

Film enthusiasts know it as the home of Dracula, sports fans know it as the country that gave the world Nadia Comaneci, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Olympic 10 in gymnastics and Brits know it as Prince Charlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; holiday retreat - Romania is a multi-faceted gem in Eastern Europe that has a rich history and an impressive natural habitat, which is why it is a touristic hotspot for people from all around the world. Discover some cool facts about the country that gave the world Constantin Brancusi, George Enescu and the Dacia car.

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THE EARLIEST RELIABLY DATED FOSSILS of European modern humans (until now at least) were discovered in 2002 in southwestern Romania at Pestera cu Oase (translated as the Cave with Bones). The fossil’s age is estimated to be 37800 to 42000 years old. THE OLDEST CAVE DRAWINGS in Central and Eastern Europe were recently found in Romania’s Coliboaia cave. They were This sign is making Hollywood discovered by chance during a roushake in its boots. tine expedition in a remote area in the Apuseni National Park. The 13 drawings represent animals such as rhinos, buffalos, horses and cats, and are approximately 32000 years old. Fortunately, the drawings are very well preserved, most likely because the area where the gallery is located is not subject to flooding. Some people think that the entrance

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of the cave was once used for hunting-related rituals. ANCIENT TOMIS (the present-day city of Constanta, one of Romania’s largest cities) has been associated with the story of Jason and the Argonauts who embarked on a long voyage from Greece to Kolchis (today in Georgia) on the Black Sea coast in search of the Golden Fleece. With an area of 238391 square kilometers / 92043 square miles, Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe. It is about the same size as the United Kingdom and just a little smaller than the U.S. state of Oregon. ONE OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES in the country still standing – the Densus Church dedicated to St. Nicholas, was built in the 600s, in Transylvania, on the

A costume based on very old, pre-Christian traditions

Austrian and, of course, Romanian masters. THE CENTRAL CITY OF BRASOV is home to one of the narrowest streets in Europe, called “The Rope Street” (Strada Sforii). The street is less than 1.2m / 4 ft wide and connects Cerbului Street with Poarta Schei Street. This street was initially used as an access route by firefighters. THE MODERNIST “DADA” MOVEMENT (Dadaism) of the 1920s was actually co-founded by Romanian artists Tristan Tzara and Marcel Iancu. A GAME that is extremely similar to baseball, called “Oina”, was played in Romania long before baseball had become one of America’s favorite sports.

The Bran castle, which served as one of the sources of inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel

site of a 2nd-century Roman temple. Ruins of a mid-300s Christian worship building were found in the north-eastern town of Mihalaseni (Botosani county) as well. ROMANIAN INVENTOR TRAIAN VUIA was the first European to build and fly a fully self-propelled, fixed-wing “automobile airplane” on March 18, 1906.

Winter scene

TIMISOARA - a city in the West of the country became the first in Europe to have electric street lighting in 1889. DURING THE 1920S, Bucharest was also called “Little Paris” because of its architecture and overall atmosphere. The city’s Arcul de Triumf was constructed in 1935 and was modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Now, unfortunately, Bucharest is no longer a very glamorous city. THE PALACE OF THE PARLIAMENT in Bucharest is the world’s heaviest building. The vast construction started during the final years of Nicolae Ceausescu’s rule and was not finished until 1997 (seven years after his death). It is 240 m / 787 ft long, 270 m / 886 ft wide, 86 m

Traditional homes at the Village Museum in Sibiu. There is a second openair Village Museum in Bucharest

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YRead this article with a song!

THE BRUKENTHAL MUSEUM in Sibiu was established three years before the opening of the Louvre Museum in Paris. The museum, founded by Samuel Brukenthal, the governor of Transylvania, opened to the public in 1817. This makes it the oldest museum in Romania and one of the first museums in Europe. The art collection includes paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck and Teniers, as well as works by German,

PELES CASTLE in Sinaia was the first European castle lit entirely by electricity. The electricity was produced by the castle’s own plant and its central heating system, which were built in 1888 and which are still functional and in use today.

Romanian money is made from plastic and can’t really be ripped off by hand. The Piarist Church in Cluj-Napoca, is dedicated to the Holy Trinity and was the first Roman Catholic church built in Transylvania after the Protestant Reformation, as well as the province’s first Baroque church building. A home in Sinaia The Hungarian theater in Club-Napoca

which was when the church’s walls darkened and so the church got its name. Inside, there is a magnificent Bucholz organ (on which concerts are still played) and the biggest collection of oriental carpets in Europe.

/ 282 ft high (12 stories), and cost the equivalent of €3 billion to build. The People’s House, as it is known, is an impressive building and some even claim you may be able to see it from the Moon, but that is not clear. As many as 100000 people worked on the site, hundreds of whom are thought to have perished - there are many stories about people being killed in order not to divulge where secret rooms or tunnels were. The building has 1100 rooms (the vast majority of which lie empty) and an annual heating bill of $6m. There are eight underground levels, as well as a nuclear bunker linked to other government buildings by 20 km / 12 miles of tunnels. THE TALLEST wooden church in the world, which I also the second-tallest wooden structure in Europe, is found in Sapanta Peri, Maramures county. The 78 m / 257 ft tall church is topped by a 7 m / 23 ft cross. THE BLACK CHURCH is the biggest Gothic church between Vienna and Istanbul. It was partially destroyed by a massive fire in 1689,

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AROUND 1350 floral species have been spotted in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, including the yellow poppy, the Transylvanian columbine, saxifrage and edelweiss. ROMANIA HAS THE BEST-PRESERVED DELTA in Europe. Crossing the southern region of Romania and partially marking the border with Bulgaria, the Danube forms an impressive delta before flowing into the Black Sea. The Danube Delta is home to 23 natural ecosystems, and, from April to September it is home to more than 300 bird species that come to live on the delta’s channels and lakes. THE SCARISOARA GLACIER can be found underneath the Bihor Mountains - it is the second-largest underground glacier in Europe. With a volume of 75000 cubic meters, the glacier has been in existence for over 3500 years. THE LARGEST POPULATION OF BROWN BEARS lives in the Romanian Carpathians. About 6000 brown bears are found in the Romanian Carpathians, from a total of 200000 brown bears worldwide. THE FORMER SALT MINE in

the town of Turda, which dates back to the 17th century, is home to an underground amusement park nestled 120 m /400 ft down in its belly. The attractions include a bowling alley, an amphitheater that regularly hosts live concerts and a grand wheel. The salt mine also hosts an underground salt lake that you can explore using paddle and rowing boats. ROMANIAN is the only Romance language in Eastern Europe. ROMANIA’S NATIONAL CURRENCY is called the “Leu”, which translates as “lion”. The name of the Romanian currency and of the U.S. dollar share the same origin: the Dutch coin “löwentaler”. The Romanian Leu got its name after the roaring lion (löwen) engraved on the tail of the löwentaler, while the US Dollar was named after the second part of the Dutch coin “taler” (pronounced daler and meaning silver coin). ROMANIA IS THE FIFTH-BOOZIEST COUNTRY in the world, behind four other Eastern European states: Belarus, Russia, Moldova and Lithuania.

The Council Brasov, a med ringed by the Mountains is and new

Sibiu is a beautiful medieval town that is very cultural and art-oriented. It is famous for its Germanic architecture in the old town, the legacy of 12th-century Saxon settlers. There is also a building called The Council Tower which dates back to the 13th cenntury.

Square of dieval city e Carpathian s a mix of old

The Council Square of Brasov, a medieval city ringed by the Carpathian Mountains is a mix of old and new

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The church of Densus

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The Corvin Castle, also known as Hunyadi Castle or Hunedoara Castle (Romanian: Castelul Huniazilor or Castelul Corvinilor; Hungarian: Vajdahunyadi vár), is a Gothic-Renaissance castle in Hunedoara, Romania. It is one of the largest castles in Europe and figures in a list of the Seven Wonders of Romania. Its building began in the 14th century and ended in the 19th century.

The average Romanian consumes 14.4 liters of pure alcohol each year, compared to 11.6 liters in Britain. THE EUROPEAN BISON, Europe’s largest mammal weighing 635 kg / 1400 lbs was nearly hunted to extinction. However, in recent years has been reintroduced to several Eastern European countries, including Romania. ROMANIA IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD FOR 4G SPEED, occupying an impressive fourth place out of 78 nations. Users in the country can expect a speed of 35.61 Mbps, on average, compared to just 21.16 Mbps in the UK.

The Black Church

A Place Known by Many Names What many people don’t know is that in Romania there is a strong Hungarian minority and there was also a strong German (Saxon) community, which has significantly decreased in time, but is now making a slight come-back. Thus, because most towns and villages, especially in Transylvania, were inhabited for many years by non-Romanians, many places in the country have several names, one in Romanian, another one in Hungarian, another one in German and many still remember (even though they don’t really use) their Latin names. Here are some examples: Romanian Name

Hungarian Name

German Name

Târnăveni

Dicsőszentmárton, Szentmárton, Dicső

Sankt Martin, Sankt-Martin, Martinskirch, Marteskirch, Märteskirch, Mierteskirch

Reghin

Sächsisch-Regen

Szászrégen, Nagyrégen

Râșnov

earlier Rozsnyó, now Barcarozsnyó

Rosenau

Poiana Sibiului

Polyán, Pojána

Pojana, Pojan, Flußau, Flussau

Paloș

Pálos

Königsdorf, Kenengderf

Cluj-Napoca

Kolozsvár

Klausenburg

Belin

Bölön, Kisbölön, Középbölön, Nagybölön

Blumendorf, Boellen

Zlatna

Zalatna, Kisbánya

Klein Schlatten, Klein-Schlatten, Goldmarkt

Târgu Mureș

Marosvásárhely

Neumarkt, Neumarkt am Mieresch

Archiș

Bélárkos, Árkos, Árkus

Sächsisch Erkes

Romania’s historic regions Many German speakers will have a hard time reading some of the names because a few variants are not in “high German”, but rather in the local dialect called “Siebenbürgisch-Sächsisch”, or originally “Siweberjesch-Såksesch or just Såksesch

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Current Obsessions #StaySane Cool Summer Buys

Inflatable boxing bag

Inflatable penguin toy Humidifying electric fan

Here are some really cool and practical hand-picked summer buys for you and even for your pets!

Hand electric fan Hairline shaper Hair and beard clipper

Many people may not be able or want to travel this summer. However, this doesn’t mean one can’t have a great experience at home, whether you like to lounge or party.

From workout gear to self-styling and ice cream-eating, we’ve got you covered on all areas!

Ice cream (or melon) scoop

Phone fan

Electric shaver

Massage slipper

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Party lights with changing effects Beard shaper Home disco lights

Wood neck massager

Neck massager Jade massager Sleep mask Hand-held body massager Head massager Wooden foot massager

Reusable shoe protector

Door opener and button pusher

YCheck out this feature with a song!

Touchless sensor soap dispenser Portable air conditioner

Mini sewing machine Pet blanket with cooling effect Laptop stand

Screen amplifier attireclub.org |

Laptop table

F O R

T H E

L A D I E S

How

to Look like a

Parisienne T

Text/Photos: Attire Club | Model: Lia Trif

Paris is a State of Mind

rends come and go, but some styles are timeless. The French style, or, better said, the classic Parisian style, has become over time not just a look, but a vibe in itself. The simple lines, clean colors and subtle elegance are what make it a universal hallmark of “chicness”. Many people think that French women are some of the most elegant women in the world, and there is good reason for that. For ages now, France, and especially Paris, has been one of the centers, if not the center of the fashion world. Most world-famous fashion brands have emerged from Paris and that makes sense, since the City of Lights has a strong history of being at the forefront of beauty and style.

The great thing about dressing like a Parisienne is that you don’t have to be a Parisienne to be a Parisienne. Basically, if you are going for a strong, but simple look based on simple style and elegance, you qualify as a Paris girl wherever you may live. So, what are the marks of the iconic Parisienne style, which has been popularized by so many style icons, celebrities and even fictional characters?

From Coco Chanel to Caroline de Maigret

There are multiple ways of being a Parisienne: you can be a petite môme, who’s soft and dainty à la Amelie or you can be a badass tough rock’n’roll boss lady, like a Caroline de Maigret - or anything in between and still be a top-notch Parisienne. The truth is that the Parisienne look is so flexible because its value lies in its vibe and concept and in some core styling principles on which one can build her very own style. When one is thinking about how a classic Frenchie would dress, the first thing that comes to mind is the classic (and still not cliché) look based a Bret-

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on stripes t-shirt, maybe some red leggings and a beret. Now, this may be a bit too archetypal, but it is a good representation of the look if you want to break it down and understand it. Basically, what the Parisienne look is founded on is making sure that everything you wear is intentional and motivated by something and that every sartorial element you have on is clear and crisp. In other words, the Parisienne look is the paramount of fashion motivation; it is what happens when you affirm loud and clearly who you are through your clothes. Usually, Parisiennes wear clean lines, clear prints, comfortable yet fitting shirts and pretty much everything that gives them confidence. Basically, simplicity is at the core of Parisian style. Keeping it simple in terms of lines, colors and shapes is what makes a French look work. It sounds easy, but you will find that achieving high ele-

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gance through simplicity is not quite the easiest thing the (fashion) world.

It All Comes Together in the Place de l’Étoile

Working with shapes is also something of the essence: a Parisienne understands not just shapes in general, but also what works for her body. For example, if you should always balance your features out: if you have a face that is rather round, you can wear either rectangular sunglasses that will either balance out the roundness of your face or really round sunglasses that will make you look like a full moon if you want to exaggerate your features. Proportion is another thing Parisiennes know how to work with: to obtain a classic French look, you have to understand your body and how to use it as a canvas for an amazing outfit. If you want to draw attention to your face, wear a hat, if you want to emphasize your legs, wear something that will showcase them (doesn’t have to mean short) and so on. Then, the key is to find supporting pieces that will bring everything in place. When it comes to accessories, these need to be… you guessed it - simple and bold - similar to the Nordic style, but a little flashier. A simple statement shoe and a magic purse can really elevate an outfit. Just think of the classic Chanel bags: you add them to any look and already it looks more elevated. Other accessories can be just as effective. You can add a sleek belt to give you confidence or a necklace to remind you of something and you are set and ready to go. And, of course, in terms of hair and makeup, the philosophy of French beauty is based on airy makeup (think the no makeup makeup), described by a natural blush to enhance your cheeks, a little color around the eyes (some contour and mascara maybe to make your eyes pop) and a little rouge to add some spice to your lips - but, as in your plate, you don’t want too much spice. In short, it can be stated that Parisian style is something subtle, but very effective; it is chic and confidence-based. There is an infinity of ways in which you can adapt the Parisian style, which is why it works so well for anyone, anywhere. Ultimately, it’s not so much what you wear, but how you wear it. So make sure to add a little Paris flair to your attitude and you are ready to go!

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S T Y L E

N OT E B O O K

Th e G a r d e n Notebook Photos: Attire Club

English poet Alfred Austin is quoted with saying “Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are”. Indeed, a garden, just like one’s style is a great indicator of who one is. Not to mention, that some influencers, such as Li Edelkoort focus strongly on the connection between horticulture and fashion. In this sense, we have put together a home-based feature on garden plants and some quotes in which you can find some metafashion inspiration. 64 | InCompanytAttirehClub

“Neither need you tell me,” said Candide, “that we must take care of our garden.” “You are in the right,” said Pangloss; “for when man was put into the garden of Eden, it was with an intent to dress it: and this proves that man was not born to be idle.” - Voltaire (in Candide)

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.â&#x20AC;? -Alfred Austin

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;G/d Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.â&#x20AC;? -Francis Bacon

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“The flower that smells the sweetest is shy and lowly.” - William Wordsworth

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e chs Wat& e s n d Wo r WATC H

WATC H I N G

T H E D I G I TA L E D I T I O N

gether with Baume & Mercier, Piaget, GĂŠrald Genta and Daniel Roth. The brands wanted to create an exclusive event for watchmaking. Almost 30 years later, the 2019 edition attracted about 23,000 visitors and journalists. Later that year, in the fall, the Fondation de la Haute Horologerie (FHH) announced that as of its 30th edition, the show would be called Watches & Wonders.

nfortunately, the 2020 edition, which was supposed to be held once again in the Palexpo building, was canceled due to government shutdowns of major events. In this sense, WW moved online and picked the date of April 25th as the day when the participating brands announced what they would have showcased during the event on the eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website. This was the day the event was initially supposed to start in Geneva.

The Event

he Watches and Wonders fair is one of the most important watch shows in the world. Formerly known as SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie), the Geneva event started out in 1991. The first edition was put together by Cartier, to-

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he 2020 spring brought even more attention to WW, as the other major Swiss show, Baselworld reached a major crisis, which seemed to lead to its end, thus leaving the Watches & Wonders fair to be the biggest Swiss watch show. Moreover, the show was featured in headlines, as many brands such as Rolex and Chopard, which announced that they would leave Baselworld, announced that they would establish a new show in Geneva, adjacent to WW as of 2021. Some people are

speculating that the starting date of the new event will be the 15th of April 2021, given that many hotel rooms were booked in Geneva starting with that date. So far, no official announcement has been made regarding the date of the new show and not even in regard to its name. There were many great watches put forward in the presentations that were released on the Watches & Wonders website. The WW website has rapidly turned into a veritable platform where brands have the ability to share new products, to showcase other items and to post information about their brands and watchmaking endeavors.

Future Moves

in the past. While such a bold move may be the start of a different approach to watch and jewelry fairs, in a way the lacking physical aspect made it rather clear that there is a strong need for a physical show and for a “real” community to actually exist. In the end, it can be said that exclusivity is, in a way, based on face-to-face relations.

or the time being, it is too early to tell how Watches and Wonders will change, whether there will be a new show in Geneva and whether Baselworld will continue, but in the meantime, we can all take the time (a watchmaking pun is essential) to enjoy the newest creations from so many great brands!

he rapid movement of the watch fair on an online platform was definitely an interesting idea and its quick implementation went hand in hand with the modern and forward-looking spirit of the fair, for which Watches & Wonders has been praised

T H E W AT C H E S

Hermès Arceau L’heure de la Lune This stunning piece by Hermès features dials that made from real meteorites - talk about an out-of-this-world watch! Hermès has a done an amazing job at conveying an entire atmosphere through this watch: the colors go well with numbers font, which go really well with the shapes and proportions of the watch. This watch comes in a very limited edition and costs about 26,000 CHF (almost $27,000) per piece.

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Pasha de Cartier in Steel The Pasha was designed in 1985 and, according to a story, it was made based on a watch made in an edition of 1 for the Pasha of Marrakesh in the 1930s. The accuracy of this story has not been officially verified, as no one has ever seen the 1930s watch. What is clear though, is that the modern Pasha was designed by Gerald Genta, who is known by many watch lovers as the man who designed the famous Royal Oak for Audemars Piguet (1972) and the Patek Philippe Nautilus (1976). During the 1990s, the Pasha was a very popular Cartier piece and has now been re-created by the brand. The price for the new version is $6,700.

Panerai Luminor Marina DMLS The Titanium DMLS Luminor Marina has a case that is built in 3D using a laser sintering process (or Direct Metal Laser Sintering, similar to the way ceramic cases are made). Panerai also added another proprietary Panerai material called Carbotech (which is based on carbon-fiber) for the bezel and crown lever. All these innovations result in a case thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 30% lighter than regular cast titanium. The impressive science, combined with a simple, classic design result in a watch that is strong and very powerful visually. The price? $15,000.

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The Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon Chronograph This new watch by Vacheron Constantin is a state-ofthe-art work in that it features two of haute horology’s most complicated and sophisticated micromechanical devices, a monopusher chronograph and a tourbillon. Not only is it extremely complicated and complex, but it is also a beauty to look at. The design is soft and elegant and features an understated pink gold case. The price: $197,000.

Piaget Altiplano Ultimate Concept There is something about this gorgeous watch by Piaget that makes it extremely attractive. Piaget has designed the watch in such a way that it can be easily customized in terms of colors. The play with shapes and proportions are definitely amazing and catch the eye, but there is a lot more to it than that. The watch features some innovations such as its cobalt alloy case, which doubles as the movement’s baseplate and thus saves a lot of space, making the watch slim and sleek. The crown is telescoping and retractable, and its patented bridge structure is situated unconventionally above the dial, rather than beneath it. And the unconventionalities don’t stop there, as the balance wheel is placed unconventionally on the side of the dial and the mainspring barrel is exposed and drumless. Last, but certainly not least, the crystal is extremely thin and flat, which contributes to its sleekness. The price is undivulged, but it is rumored to start at around $410,000 with basic customizations.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Tradition Grande Complication Once again, Jaeger-LeCoultre has infused a beautiful watch with a lot of esoteric meaning and a celestial feel. Traditionally, a Grand Complication features three complications: one, which provides astronomical information (such as a perpetual calendar), a second complication described by a sounding system such as a minute repeater and a third one, which usually involves one or more additional hands - most often a chronograph, but sometimes a tourbillion. In this watch, the three complications don’t simply coexist in the platinum case - they are intertwined in a very artistic manner. There is a lot more to explore in this watch, such as the display of the day, date, month, and zodiac signs, which correspond with the constellation map featured on the watch’s face. These are indicated on the periphery of the dial. The price is not known officially, but it appears to go for about $460,000. attireclub.org |

FA S H I O N

A N D

T E C H

Sci-Fit

Space Suits Made Finally for Space The recent SpaceX manned mission drew a lot of attention through its suits, which were drawn out by a Hollywood costume designer

his June saw the first launch of a private space mission towards the International Space Station, as Elon Musk’s SpaceX collaboration with NASA took off. While many people were fascinated by the technological achievement and their meaning for our times, there was also some (not so much though) talk about the spacesuits worn by astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken. The spacesuits were designed by Hollywood costume designer Jose Fernandez. Previously, Fernandez was known for having designed space costumes for fictional characters like Ironman, Tron and Captain America. He also designed Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman suit in Batman Returns and Scarlett Johansson’s costume in The Avengers. Halle Berry’s costume in X-Men was also signed by Jose Fernandez.

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or this summer’s mission, he worked together with Elon Musk to create a sleek and sharp version of the traditional astrosuit. The new suits have been compared by some to James Bond’s tuxedos and to the armors of the mentioned superheroes, featuring somewhat broad shoulders and a slight emphasis on the pectorals. Overall though, the outline of the suits was rather soft.

he many famous names have drawn some attention to the suits, but fortunately, did not overshadow the rest of the mission. Many people created memes about them and Katy Perry even posted a

picture of herself on Instagram dressed in an outfit inspired by the mission. Unfortunately though, the mission had to be postponed, but soon enough the astronauts were launched into space.

Photos: SpaceX

The costumes, which were designed by a popular Hollywood costume designer really made the SpaceX mission somewhat of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;star-studdedâ&#x20AC;? event. Get the pun?

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THE ATTIRE CLUB MOOD DIARY Our mood board as a visual journal

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Nautical Themes The nautical aesthetic is always great: it is clean, fresh and makes one dream of good things. Boats, the seas and the vales are all part of a beautiful world that is widely used in decorating, dressing up and more. Discover our collection of explorerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boats from the past and get inspired for your sailor fantasy!

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YRead this article with a song!

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St. Matthew and the Angel by Rembrandt, 1661

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Seeing Sounds

Stories from our web Make sure to like, share and subscribe @attireclub

Check out some highlights of things we liked and shared on our IG stories feed! attireclub.org |

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C I N E M A

C U LT U R E

THE AC SUMMER MOVIES LIST What to watch this summer: from old classics you might have seen during summer reruns some years back to films you probably didn’t even hear of: here is the Attire Club summer film roundup!

Amélie (2001) Midnight in Paris (2011) Paris, I Love You (2006) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Cast Away (2000) Crocodile Dundee (1986) They Live (1988) Dazed and Confused (1993) The Room (2019) The Long, Hot Summer (1958) The Kings of Summer (2013) The Science of Sleep (2006) The Way Way Back (2013) A Short Film about Love (1988) 86 | InCompanytAttirehClub

2 Everybody Is In On It: The Truman Show

he Truman Show is a 1998 movie starring Jim Carrey which tells the story of Truman Burbank, a man living on a small island who begins to discover that the things around him are not always what they seem. Little by little, Truman begins to notice cracks in the matrix, to ultimately discover that his life is the subject of a reality show created for the entertainment of global audiences. The island isn’t real, the people on the island - including his wife - are actors and everything revolves around him. The movie is a very popular production and is regarded by many people as a manifesto of the idea of breaking into reality. The film contains many similarities to two fundamental cinematic myths such as Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz and is filled with symbols. The film is very impressive and thought-provoking, as it touches on subjects that are deeply embedded in us. For example, producer Christof ’s line “We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented” is an extremely powerful thought that can alone spark conversations spanning over multiple hours. Living in a conditioned world and escaping is hard and a suffering-based experience. In the beginning of the film, a light falls from the fake sky. The light is called “Sirius (9 Canis Major)”, which references the brightest star in the night sky, which Homer calls in the Iliad an evil portent bringing heat and fevers to a suffering humanity. The falling of this studio light is the first in a series of ruptures, which ends with a rupture in the

“sky”, through which Truman steps out into the real world. Breaking from his daily life is not easy, as each moment of truth is associated with a moment of pain - such as the moment when he meets his “father”. The end of the film is also a reflection of that, as it puts everything that we usually associate with positivity (calm waters, blue skies, light) behind Truman, leaving him to discover the real world through a dark rectangle. As a cinematic reference, the open door, which acts as a portal to Truth is similar to the monolith which represents knowledge in 2001: A Space Odyssey from 1968 (which was released exactly 30 years before The Truman Show). Watching the film makes the viewer ponder on hard questions and topics. We can’t help but think of the extent to which we are governed by apparently-insignificant details, such as products or the media. Moreover, The Truman Show makes people realize that so much of life is actually brought upon by circumstance which we can’t really control, but of whose backgrounds we are not aware of. The scene when Truman tries to break away only to find himself in a traffic jam is a great example of how, extremely often, small events seem to be extremely narrative to our lives. The problem that is also put forward by The Truman Show is that a good amount of times, the unknown may have multiple layers. For a good part of the movie, Truman - on his quest of becoming a true man, realizes that things are odd and that there is a part of his life that is mysterious (the elevator moment, for example), but his forced perception does not allow him to actually figure out what is going on. Furtherattireclub.org |

more, until the end, while he does begin to realize that people may be “acting”, he still can’t get to the idea that everyone is acting. The construction of the fakeness is also done in a subtle way, as his wife’s name is Meryl (as in Meryl Streep) and his friend’s name is Marlon (as in Marlon Brando).

such as the Cold War paranoia of being bugged or watched, the advent of permanent surveillance and of reality shows, but also on really deep, metaphysical matters which deal with the way in which our universe is constructed. System upon system, control upon control, interest after interest.

And so, at the very end, he realizes that he can escape from the island only if he sees everything as unreal. The Truman Show works only if Truman believes in it.

The last part of the film is packed with religious symbolism. Truman uses a boat called the Santa Maria to go towards the real world and manages to calm the waters through his attitude. He then steps out and symbolically walks on water. Afterwards, he goes up some steps. Interestingly enough, in the shot reaching the top, there are 14 steps visible - the Via Dolorosa, which marks Christ’s road to the cross features 14 stops. As he reaches the top (which looks similar to a hill), he spreads his arms, resembling a crucifixion and then steps out into the true world.

This is one of the major takeaways of the film, which is also hard to grasp because we, as Truman, often don’t connect the dots - Truman was often given different types of clues about what is really going on, but, because of his conditioning, the truth did not click until things started really adding up. This definitely raises the question of how much we are programmed. How much in our daily lives is pre-determined or p re - e s t a b l i s h e d ? Recalibrating one’s life is hard and involves a lot of suffering and pain. The Truman Show is an extremely complex movie, which masterfully touches not only on social matters

All in all, the film is a masterpiece full of powerful underlying ideas, which is why it is worth watching and re-watching, analyzing and discussing and breaking down. Ultimately, The Truman Show is a powerful movie that shows what waking up looks like.

3 The Classic Hollywood Guide to How to React When You Screw Up a Scene

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clip is divided into a few parts, categorizing the main screw up reactions, such as “son of a bitch” and “nuts” - which is quite interesting if you think about it. Film in those times was quite expensive, so they couldn’t really afford to break too much when they messed up, so they had to sum it up to fun quirky observations like “If I only knew the line now, how beautifully we could play this scene”.

Watch the video!

Everyone is familiar with funny bloopers and outtakes from movies and TV shows, which appear on the end credits of a production or as a DVD extra. However, what many people are not familiar with and would have a hard time imagining is what a blooper would look like from a 1940s film. A YouTube video (which was posted about a decade ago, but is still not very popular) features a fun montage of reactions of classic Hollywood stars. These are definitely interesting to see, as they are quite funny at times, but still maintain the propriety and attitude of the first part of the 20th century. The

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Four Seasons Art

WO R L D

The 2025-30 Trend Forecast Pain or Wonder

Today, we are witnessing a time of great change. New technologies like blockchain, 5G, AI, MR, IoT and others are driving the world into a new time, not just from a technological point of view, but also from a political and cultural one. The coming years are most likely to bring new changes in the way we live, in the way we organize our society, in the design of the objects we use on a daily basis (everything from cars to kitchen supplies), in politics and much more. The economical system will change dramatically and so will the way we interact with others. Every social changes involves a change in government, in the way we work and, as it is only natural, in the way we express ourselves artistically – the next years may be aggitated (probably more aggitated than people can imagine), but in a few years, life will slow down. Surely, some places will move more slowly than others. Trends today are becoming in general more and more slow. For a while now, we have in a way come to a cultural standstill, so the next years will bring a shift and a “rethink” in the way we organize culture. More: fraquohandfranchomme.com 90 | InCompanytAttirehClub

SUBSCRIPTION

Subscribe to InCompany by Attire Club to make sure you receive your beautiful print copy of each edition. With a focus on quality and sophistication, InCompany by Attire Club magazine explores the fashion world in an original and creative manner. Featuring interviews with creative talents, style guides, stunning photography and carefully curated products and travel recommendations, the goal of the magazine is to present more than the typical fashion publication. Capturing a compelling image of the fashion world, the issue covers both the independent and mainstream areas of fashion and from the very ethnic and old-school to the latest high-tech innovations. Go to levolny.mozello.com to buy the subscription for just â&#x201A;Ź90 (about $102) or just scan the QR code on the left.

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Discover the websites featured in this issue!

Yaki Bracelets u instagram.com/yakibracelets/ Page 27

Watches & Wonders u watchesandwonders.com Page 70

Bexei u bexei.hu Page 30

SpaceX u spacex.com Page 74

Igee Okafor u igeeokafor.com Page 47

Liev Arts u lievarts.com Pages 82, 89

Rocambolesco u instagram.com/ rocambolesco_fashion Page 49

Fraquoh and Franchomme u fraquohandfranchomme.com Page 90

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Always Addressing Power Dressing

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Jeune Tahitien ou Jeune Homme a la Fleur (Young Man with a Flower Behind his Ear) by Paul Gauguin, 1891

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